More than 10,000 people in Embangweni and surrounding communities in Mzimba are expected to benefit from a major water supply project currently under construction, bringing renewed hope to residents who have endured years of water shortages.
Speaking during an inspection of the project on Thursday, the Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development, Roza Fatch Mbilizi assured residents that the government remains committed to completing the project on schedule.
“We want to reassure the people of Embangweni that the government is fully committed to ensuring that this project is completed on time,” said Mbilizi, adding that the project is expected to be commissioned by June.
She said the initiative forms part of the government’s broader efforts to improve access to clean and safe water, enhance public health, and strengthen sanitation services.
She also assured the contractor that government will make sure that he is paid Member of Parliament for the area (Mzimba South), Emmanuel Chambulanyina Jere, thanked the government for responding to concerns he said he had raised in Parliament over the past five years.
“For a long time, Mbangwe faced serious water challenges, but this project will help provide clean and safe water to more than 10,000 people,” said Jere.
He also urged communities to protect and maintain the project after its completion to ensure long-term sustainability.
Meanwhile, a student at Embangweni Community Day Secondary School, Wezzie Thawi, welcomed the development, saying it would help improve sanitation and create a better learning environment at the school.
Director of Construction at Foundation for Irrigation and Sustainable Development (FISD) Limited, Frank Mwenechanya, said the project would soon be handed over to the relevant authorities and communities upon completion.
Once completed, the Embangweni Water Project is expected to improve access to clean water, reduce waterborne diseases, and raise sanitation standards in schools and surrounding communities.
